Sheath based blood vessel puncture locator and depth indicator

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a sheath based puncture locator and depth indicator. The present invention provides for locating a blood vessel puncture site and determining the depth of the puncture of the blood vessel extravascularly using the introducer sheath that is already in place within the tissue tract. The present invention also provide for positioning the introducer sheath extravascularly or outside the blood vessel, controlling the blood vessel puncture site, and delivering a hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of prior co-copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/256,493, filed Sep. 26, 2002, entitled “System And Method For Delivering Hemostasis Promoting Material To A Blood Vessel Puncture Site By Fluid Pressure”, which is a continuation-in-part of prior co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/007,204, filed Nov. 8, 2001, and entitled “System And Method For Delivering Hemostasis Promoting Material To A Blood Vessel Puncture Site By Fluid Pressure” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to delivering hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site. More particularly, the invention relates to a sheath based blood vessel puncture locator and depth indicator to accurately deliver an absorbable sponge material to seal a blood vessel puncture site.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0003] A large number of diagnostic and interventional procedurals involve the percutaneous introduction of instrumentation into a vein or artery. For example, coronary angioplasty, angiography, atherectomy, stenting of arteries, and many other procedures often involve accessing the vasculature through a catheter placed in the femoral artery or other blood vessel. Once the procedure is completed and the catheter or other instrumentation is removed, bleeding from the punctured artery must be controlled.

[0004] Traditionally, external pressure is applied to the skin entry site to stem bleeding from a puncture wound in a blood vessel. Pressure is continued until hemostasis has occurred at the puncture site. In some instances, pressure must be applied for up to an hour or more during which time the patient is uncomfortably immobilized. In addition, a risk of hematoma exists since bleeding from the vessel may continue beneath the skin until sufficient clotting effects hemostasis. Further, external pressure to close the vascular puncture site works best when the vessel is close to the skin surface and may be unsuitable for patients with substantial amounts of subcutaneous adipose tissue since the skin surface may be a considerable distance from the vascular puncture site.

[0005] More recently, devices have been proposed to promote hemostasis directly at a site of a vascular puncture. One class of such puncture sealing devices features an intraluminal anchor which is placed within the blood vessel and seals against an inside surface of the vessel puncture. The intraluminal plug may be used in combination with a sealing material positioned on the outside of the blood vessel, such as collagen. Sealing devices of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,852,568; 4,890,612; 5,021,059; and 5,061,274.

[0006] Another approach to subcutaneous blood vessel puncture closure involves the delivery of non-absorbable tissue adhesives, such cyanoacrylate, to the perforation site. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,899.

[0007] The application of an absorbable material such as collagen or a non-absorbable tissue adhesive at the puncture site has several drawbacks including: 1) possible injection of the material into the blood vessel causing thrombosis; 2) a lack of pressure directly on the blood vessel puncture which may allow blood to escape beneath the material plug into the surrounding tissue; and 3) the inability to accurately place the absorbable material plug directly over the puncture site.

[0008] The use of an anchor and plug system addresses these problems to some extent but provides other problems including: 1) complex and difficult application; 2) partial occlusion of the blood vessel by the anchor when placed properly; and 3) complete blockage of the blood vessel or a branch of the blood vessel by the anchor if placed improperly. Another problem with the anchor and plug system involves reaccess. Reaccess of a particular blood vessel site sealed with an anchor and plug system is not possible until the anchor has been completely absorbed because the anchor could be dislodged into the blood stream by an attempt to reaccess.

[0009] A system which addresses many of these problems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,192 which delivers a hydrated pledget of absorbable sponge material to a location outside the blood vessel to facilitate hemostasis. However, this system involves the removal of the introducer sheath used during the intravascular procedure and the insertion of a dilator and introducer into the tissue tract vacated by the introducer sheath to place the absorbable sponge. It would be desirable to reduce the number of steps involved in delivery of a hemostasis promoting material by allowing the material to be delivered through an introducer sheath already in place within the tissue tract and used in the intravascular procedure.

[0010] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system for accurately locating the blood vessel wall at a puncture site and for properly placing a hemostasis plug over, the puncture site where the locating and placing steps are performed through the introducer sheath already in place in the blood vessel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention discloses a sheath based puncture locator and depth indicator. The present invention provides for locating a blood vessel puncture site and determining the depth of the puncture of the blood vessel extravascularly using the introducer sheath that is already in place within the tissue tract. The present invention also provide for positioning the introducer sheath extravascularly or outside the blood vessel, controlling the blood vessel puncture site, and delivering a hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0012] The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like elements bear like reference numerals, and wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of a first embodiment of a system for delivering hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site by fluid pressure.

[0014]FIG. 2 is an assembled side view of the system of FIG. 1.

[0015]FIG. 3A is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the system of FIG. 2.

[0016]FIG. 3B is a side cross sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2 according to a first alternative embodiment with a flapper valve.

[0017]FIG. 3C is a side cross sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2 according to a second alternative embodiment in a first position.

[0018]FIG. 3D is a side cross sectional view of FIG. 3C in a second position.

[0019]FIG. 3E is a side view of a portion of the system of FIG. 2 according to a third alternative embodiment with a two position connecting system.

[0020]FIG. 3F is a side view of a portion of the system of FIG. 2 according to a fourth embodiment with an alternative two position connecting system.

[0021]FIG. 3G is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the system of FIG. 2 according to a fifth embodiment with another alternative two position connecting system.

[0022]FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of an alternative system for delivering hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site by fluid pressure.

[0023]FIG. 5 is an assembled side view of the system of FIG. 4.

[0024]FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the system of FIG. 5.

[0025]FIG. 7 is an exploded side view of another embodiment of a system for delivering hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site by fluid pressure.

[0026]FIG. 8 is an assembled side view of the system of FIG. 7.

[0027]FIG. 9 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the assembled system of FIG. 7.

[0028]FIG. 10 is an exploded side view of a further system for delivering hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site by fluid pressure with the material delivered to a side branch of the sheath.

[0029]FIG. 11 is an assembled side view of the system of FIG. 10.

[0030]FIG. 12 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the system of FIG. 11 including a proximal end of the introducer sheath and control tip.

[0031]FIG. 13 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the system of FIG. 11 including an exhaust valve, a hydration chamber, and a syringe.

[0032]FIG. 14 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the system of FIG. 1 with a pledget of hemostasis promoting material positioned in the hydration chamber.

[0033]FIG. 15 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the system of FIG. 1 with the sponge hydrated and advanced in preparation for delivery.

[0034]FIG. 16 is a side cross sectional view of a blood vessel puncture site with an introducer sheath and guidewire positioned in the blood vessel puncture.

[0035]FIG. 17 is a side cross sectional view of the blood vessel puncture site with the hemostasis promoting material delivery system connected to the introducer sheath and bleed back visible from the vent tube.

[0036]FIG. 18 is a side cross sectional view of the blood vessel puncture site with the hemostasis promoting material delivery system and introducer sheath withdrawn to a desired position for delivery of the hemostasis promoting material.

[0037]FIG. 19 is a side cross sectional view of the blood vessel puncture site with the hemostasis promoting material delivered to the blood vessel puncture site by fluid pressure.

[0038]FIG. 20 is a side cross sectional view of the blood vessel puncture site with the hemostasis promoting material delivery system and guidewire removed from the introducer sheath.

[0039]FIG. 21 is a side cross sectional view of the blood vessel puncture site with the introducer sheath withdrawn.

[0040]FIG. 22 is a view of the pledget handling system of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041]FIG. 23 is enlarged view of a portion of the embodiment in FIG. 22.

[0042]FIG. 24 is a sectional view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 22.

[0043]FIG. 25 is a schematic illustration of the operation of the device shown in FIG. 24.

[0044]FIG. 26 is a sectional view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 22.

[0045]FIG. 27 is a schematic illustration of the operation of the device shown in FIG. 26.

[0046]FIG. 28 is a sectional view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 22.

[0047]FIG. 29 is a schematic illustration of the operation of the device shown in FIG. 28

[0048]FIG. 30 is a view of an embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 28 in use with a conventional device.

[0049]FIG. 31 is a view of an embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 28 in use with a conventional device.

[0050]FIG. 32 is a side cross sectional view illustrating a blood vessel puncture site with an introducer sheath and guidewire positioned in the blood vessel puncture.

[0051]FIG. 33 is a side cross sectional view illustrating a sheath positioned extravascular the puncture of the blood vessel and a dilator to control the puncture site.

[0052]FIG. 34 is a side cross sectional view illustrating the determination of the depth of a puncture of the blood vessel with a sheath and dilator.

[0053]FIG. 35 is a side cross sectional view illustrating a sheath positioned extravascular the puncture of the blood vessel and a control tip dilator to control the puncture site.

[0054]FIG. 36 is a side cross sectional view illustrating a sheath positioned extravascular the puncture of the blood vessel to deliver a hemostasis promoting material or determine the depth of the puncture of the blood vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0055] Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of a sheath based blood vessel puncture locator and depth indicator. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0056] In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0057] A system for delivering hemostasis promoting material of the present invention allows the hemostasis promoting material to be delivered to a blood vessel puncture site by fluid pressure. The system allows the hemostasis promoting material to be delivered through an introducer sheath which is already in place within a tissue tract. This system includes a control tip which is insertable through the introducer sheath to locate and occlude the blood vessel puncture site and a hydration chamber for receiving and delivering the hemostasis promoting material to the blood vessel puncture site.

[0058] Although the present invention is particularly designed for delivering a hemostasis promoting material in the form of an absorbable sponge through the introducer sheath by fluid pressure, it should be understood that the system may also be used for delivering other hemostasis promoting materials which are useful for sealing a puncture site. The use of an absorbable hydrated sponge material allows the delivery of more absorbable sponge material down through a smaller sheath by allowing the sponge material to be hydrated and compressed. Once delivered, the absorbable sponge rapidly expands to fill the entire width of the tissue tract and provides hemostasis at the puncture site.

[0059] In the context of the present invention, “pledget” means a piece of sponge formed into a generally elongated shape having a size which allows delivery in a hydrated state through a delivery cannula or introducer to a site of a puncture in a blood vessel.

[0060] “Sponge” means a biocompatible material which is capable of being hydrated and is resiliently compressible in a hydrated state. Preferably, the sponge is non-immunogenic and may be absorbable or non-absorbable.

[0061] “Absorbable sponge” means sponge which, when implanted within a human or other mammalian body, is absorbed or resorbed by the body.

[0062] “Hydrate” means to partially or fully saturate with a fluid, such as saline, water, contrast agent, thrombin, therapeutic agents, or the like.

[0063] The system of FIG. 1 includes an introducer sheath 10, a hydration chamber 12 with an attached control tip 14, a coupler 16, and a syringe 18. The introducer sheath 10 is an intravascular access sheath as is conventionally used for procedures such as coronary angioplasty and stenting procedures. The introducer sheath 10 includes a proximal hub 22 connected to a tubular sheath 24. A vent tube 26 is in fluid communication with an interior of the hub 22 for purposes of providing a visual bleed back indication which will be discussed in further detail below. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a vent cap 28 is provided for opening and closing the vent tube 26 manually. However, other vent opening and closing mechanisms will be described in further detail below with respect to FIGS. 3B-3G.

[0064] The hydration chamber 12 is configured to receive a pledget of absorbable sponge material for hydration of the pledget and delivery of the pledget through the introducer sheath 10. A proximal end of the hydration chamber 12 includes a flange 36 or other connecting element for receiving the coupler 16. A distal end 34 of the hydration chamber 12 connects to the proximal hub 22 of the introducer sheath 12. The control tip 14 has an enlarged distal end 40 configured to be received in the puncture in the blood vessel and to control blood flow through the puncture in the blood vessel. The enlarged distal end 40 is connected to a smaller diameter control tip tube 42 which extends from the enlarged distal end through the distal end of the hydration chamber 12 and out a side of the hydration chamber 12 to a proximal end 44 of the control tip. The enlarged distal end 40 of the control tip performs the multiple functions of controlling blood flow through the blood vessel puncture, providing an indication of the position of the distal end of the introducer sheath, and guiding the hemostasis promoting material delivery system over a guidewire.

[0065] The coupler 16 allows the syringe 18 to be connected to the hydration chamber 12. Removal of the coupler 16 from the hydration chamber 12 allows the pledget of absorbable sponge material to be easily inserted into the hydration chamber in its dry form. Upon connection of the coupler 16 to the hydration chamber 12 the conventional syringe 18 will be connected to the coupler 16 for injection of fluid into the hydration chamber. The coupler 16 includes a seal 54 and two or more locking tabs 48 which lock over the flange 36 of the hydration chamber and are releasable by pressing on two wings 50 of the coupler. Stops 52 on the interior surfaces of the wings 50 prevent the coupler 16 from being removed from the hydration chamber 12 when a syringe 18 is mounted on the coupler. It should be understood that many other coupler designs may also be used without departing from the present invention.

[0066] In use, the system of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A is assembled with a sponge placed inside the hydration chamber 12 and a syringe 18 containing water, saline solution, or other fluid attached to the hydration chamber by the coupler 16. The sponge is hydrated and staged or moved, to a position at the distal end of the hydration chamber as will be described in further detail below. The syringe 18 is preferable capable of generating a high pressure with a relatively low plunger force such as a 1 cc syringe.

[0067] The introducer sheath 10 is placed in the blood vessel puncture of a patient in a conventional manner for performance of the intravascular procedure. After the intravascular procedure, the introducer sheath 10 and a guidewire (not shown) are maintained in place extending into the blood vessel. The control tip 14 is threaded over the proximal end of the guidewire and the hydration chamber 12 and control tip 14 are advanced into the introducer sheath until the hydration chamber distal end 34 is engaged with the hub 22 of the introducer sheath 10. Bleed back is observed by a variety of methods which will be described below with respect to FIGS. 3A-3G. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the vent cap 28 is removed from the vent tube 26 to observe bleed back. The introducer sheath 10, hydration chamber 12, and control tip 14, are withdrawn together slowly from the puncture site until the bleed back observed from the vent tube 26 stops. The bleed back stops when the enlarged distal end 40 of the control tip 44 is positioned in the blood vessel puncture preventing blood from escaping from the puncture. The distance d between the distal end of the tubular sheath 24 and the enlarged distal end 40 of the control tip 14 is selected so that the point at which bleed back stops indicates that the distal end of the introducer sheath 10 is located at a desired delivery location for delivery of the hemostasis promoting material to the blood vessel puncture site. The distance d will be selected to correspond to the size of the pledget to be delivered to the puncture site and will be selected such that the hemostasis promoting material is located in the tissue tract adjacent the blood vessel without extending into the lumen of the blood vessel.

[0068]FIG. 3A illustrates a first embodiment of a vent tube 26 with a vent cap 28 for observing bleed back. When the vent cap 28 is removed from the vent tube 26 blood is able to pass from the distal end of the introducer sheath 10 through the introducer sheath and out of the vent tube. The vent tube 26 has a relatively small diameter which is selected to provide a very noticeable spurt or stream of blood to indicate bleed back has occurred. In contract, the observance of bleed back from a larger tube such as the introducer sheath would result in an oozing or dripping bleed back indication which is difficult for the user to use as a precise indicator of position. According to one preferred embodiment, the vent tube 26 has an inner diameter of about 0.4 mm to about 2 mm, preferable about 1 mm.

[0069]FIG. 3B illustrates an alternative to manually placing the vent cap 28 into the vent tube 26 after bleed back has been used to locate the desired position for delivery of the hemostasis promoting material. In FIG. 3B, a flapper valve 56 is positioned over an inlet of the vent tube 26 inside the introducer hub 22. The flapper valve 56 responds to the sudden extreme pressures of delivering of the hemostasis promoting material and closes over the inlet to the vent tube 26. Any of the known types of flapper valves may be used in the embodiment of FIG. 3B.

[0070]FIG. 3C illustrates a further alternative embodiment for opening and closing the vent tube 26. FIG. 3C illustrates a hydration chamber 12A with an extended cylindrical distal end 60. In the position illustrated in FIG. 3C, the inlet to the vent tube 26 is opened. Upon advancement of the hydration chamber 12A with respect to the introducer sheath 10 by rotation of the hydration chamber the distal end 60 of the hydration chamber covers the inlet to the vent tube 26, as shown in FIG. 3D.

[0071]FIGS. 3E, 3F, and 3G illustrate three further embodiments of a two position hydration chamber which may be advanced after bleed back is observed to cover the inlet to the vent tube 26 and prevent exhaust through the vent tube during delivery of the hemostasis promoting material. FIG. 3E illustrates a modified coupler 16A which can be connected to the hydration chamber 12 and is advanced to two different positions by locking on two sequential annular rings 64 provided on a introducer sheath 10A.

[0072] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3F the two positions of the hydration chamber 12 with respect to the introducer sheath 10 are provided by a coupler 16B having two sets of locking tabs 66 for locking the coupler 16 in two locations on the introducer sheath 10.

[0073]FIG. 3G illustrates an alternative embodiment of a sheath hub 70 having an inner locking annulus or flange 72 at a proximal end. A distal end 74 of a hydration chamber 76 is provided with two locking grooves 78 which snap into the locking annulus 72. In the first position shown in FIG. 3G, the vent tube 26 is opened. When the hydration chamber 76 is advanced further into the introducer sheath 70 the distal end 74 of the hydration chamber passes the vent tube 26 and prevents pressure loss.

[0074] FIGS. 4-6 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a system for delivering hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site including another option for observing bleed back. FIG. 4 illustrates an introducer sheath 110, a hydration chamber 112, a control tip 114, a coupler 116, and a syringe 118. According to this embodiment, a vent tube 126 extends from a side of a distal end of the hydration chamber 112. The vent tube 126 may be provided with a vent cap 128 for manually opening and closing the vent tube 126. Alternatively, the vent tube closure system illustrated in FIG. 3B may be used. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, the introducer sheath 110 may be any of those introducer sheaths which are currently used and may be connectable to the hydration chamber 112 by a lure lock connection as shown or by a coupler 16 or other coupling mechanisms as necessary. As shown most clearly in the cross sectional view of FIG. 6, the hydration chamber 112 includes a large inner diameter at a proximal end 132 and a small inner diameter distal end 134. The vent tube 126 is provided along the smaller inner diameter distal end 134 of the hydration chamber 112 distally of a tapered portion 136 of the hydration chamber. In this embodiment, the hydrated sponge should have a distal end which is positioned just proximally of the vent tube inlet so that the sponge does not block the inlet of the vent tube restricting the bleed back pathway. The system of FIGS. 4-6, provides the advantage that the hydration chamber 112 and control tip 114 may be used with any of the known introducer sheaths 110 which may be in use in any particular intravascular procedure.

[0075] FIGS. 7-9 illustrate an alternative system for delivering hemostasis promoting material using a known introducer sheath 210 with an attached side port. FIG. 7 illustrates the introducer sheath 210, the hydration chamber 212 with the attached control tip 214, a coupler 216, and a syringe 218. The hydration chamber 212 may be connected to the introducer sheath 210 by a lure lock connection as described above or by an additional coupler 216 in the event that the introducer sheath 210 is not provided with a proximal lure connector.

[0076] The introducer sheath 210 of FIG. 7 includes a side port 220 which is used to view bleed back from the blood vessel puncture site. Connected to the side port 220 is a conventional stop cock valve 222 which is moveable between the open position illustrated in FIG. 7 and a closed position illustrated in phantom in FIG. 7.

[0077] As discussed above, preferably the bleed back is viewed when exiting a vent having a relatively small diameter. Accordingly, a small diameter vent tube 226 is preferable connected to one of the ports 224 of the side port 220. The vent tube 226 has a relatively small diameter and thus provides the desired blood spurt as a bleed back indicator. The vent tube 226 may be connected to one of the ports 224 by any of the known connectors or may be provided integrally with the port. In use, of the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9, the stop cock 122 is opened to observe bleed back passing through the introducer sheath and out the vent tube 226. The introducer sheath 210 and hydration chamber 212 are then withdrawn slowly until the bleed back is stopped by the presence of the enlarged distal end 240 of the control tip 214 in the blood vessel puncture. Once bleed back has stopped the stop cock 222 is closed to prevent fluid pressure loss from the introducer sheath 210 while the syringe plunger is depressed to advance the sponge through the introducer sheath 210 to the desired delivery location at the blood vessel puncture site.

[0078] FIGS. 10-13 illustrate a further alternative embodiment of a system for delivering hemostasis promoting material in which a hydration chamber 312 is connected to a side port 320 of an introducer sheath 310. The vent tube 326 is connected to another port of the side port 320. The stop cock 322 is movable between an open delivery position shown in FIG. 10 and a closed bleed back position shown in phantom in FIG. 10. In the closed bleed back position, bleed back is allowed through the vent tube 326. In the open delivery position the hemostasis promoting material is delivered from the hydration chamber 312 to the introducer sheath.

[0079] As shown in the cross sectional view of FIG. 13, when the stop cock 322 is in the open delivery position, the hemostasis promoting material will pass from the hydration chamber 312 through the stop cock 322 and the side port 320 and into the introducer sheath 310 for delivery to the blood vessel puncture site.

[0080]FIG. 12 illustrates the connection of the control tip 314 to a proximal plug 330 which is connectable by a coupler 316 to the hub 332 of the introducer sheath 310. The hemostasis promoting material is delivered through the side port 320 of FIG. 12 and into the hub 332 of the introducer sheath 310 and then is delivered through the introducer sheath to the puncture site.

[0081] FIGS. 14-21 illustrate the preparation and use of the system for delivering hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site. Although FIGS. 14-21 illustrate the procedure which is used with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3A, a similar procedure would be used with the other embodiments described above. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the hydration and staging of a pledget 20 of sponge material in the hydration chamber 12. Once the pledget 20 is inserted into the hydration chamber 12 and the coupler 16 and syringe 18 have been connected to the proximal end of the hydration chamber, the pledget is ready to be hydrated and staged. For the staging procedure a staging tube 100 is used to position a distal end of the pledget 20 and prevent the pledget from being expelled from the hydration chamber 12. The staging tube 100 includes a tube 102 having a longitudinal slit (not shown) and preferable including a handle 104. The staging tube 100 uses a longitudinal slit to allow the staging tube to be mounted onto the shaft of the control tip 14 since the staging tube 100 will not fit over the enlarged distal end 40 of the control tip. Once the staging tube 100 is placed over the shaft of the control tip 14, it is advanced into the distal end of the hydration chamber 12 to the first position shown in FIG. 14. In the position illustrated in FIG. 14 saline or other fluid is injected at high pressure into the hydration chamber 12 by the syringe 18 to hydrate the pledget 20. The staging tube 100 is then moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 15 and additional fluid is injected by the syringe 18 to advance the pledget 20 into the distal end of the hydration chamber.

[0082] It should be noted that in embodiments of the invention employing a vent tube in a hydration chamber, the pledget 20 should be staged with a distal end of the pledget positioned proximally of the inlet to the vent tube to prevent the pledget from blocking the bleed back vent. Once the pledget 20 has been hydrated and staged at a desired position in the hydration chamber 12, the hemostasis promoting material delivery system is ready to deliver the pledget to the puncture site.

[0083]FIG. 16 illustrates a blood vessel 106 with a puncture 108 and overlying tissue 109. In FIG. 16, the introducer sheath 10 and a guidewire 30 are in position in the blood vessel puncture 108 following an intravascular procedure.

[0084] In the step illustrated in FIG. 17, the control tip 14 has been inserted over the guidewire 30 and into the introducer sheath 10 and the distal end 34 of the hydration chamber 12 has been connected to the hub 22 of the introducer sheath. The vent cap 28 is then removed from vent tube 26 and the spurt of blood B called bleed back is observed from the vent tube.

[0085] In the next step illustrated in FIG. 18, the combination of the introducer sheath 10, the hydration chamber 12, and the control tip 14, and slowly withdrawn from the puncture site until bleed back is no longer visible from the vent tube 26. When bleed back is no longer present this indicates that the enlarged distal end 40 of the control tip 14 is located in the blood vessel puncture 108 and is preventing blood from passing through the blood vessel puncture and into the introducer sheath 10.

[0086]FIG. 19 illustrates a step of injecting the hemostasis promoting material or pledget 20 to the blood vessel puncture site by fluid pressure applied by the syringe 18. The hemostasis promoting material substantially fills the tissue tract at a space between the puncture in the blood vessel and the location of a distal end of the introducer sheath 10. The pledget material, once delivered, rapidly expands to fill the tissue tract and promotes hemostasis of the blood vessel puncture.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 20, the hydration chamber 12, the control tip 14, and the guidewire 30 are then removed from the puncture site with the introducer sheath 10 held in place to stabilize the hemostasis promoting material 20 during removal of the remaining structures. The introducer sheath 10 is then removed leaving the hemostasis promoting material in the tissue tract as shown in FIG. 21. Alternatively, the hydration chamber 12, control tip 14, guidewire 30, and introducer sheath 10 may be withdrawn together from the puncture site.

[0088] Turning now to FIGS. 22-31 there is shown an alternative embodiment wherein a pledget handling system is substituted for the hydration chamber 12 shown and described above. FIG. 22 shows the pledget handling system 400 with its proximal end coupled to the syringe 18 and the control tip extending from its distal end. The pledget handling system 400 includes a pledget chamber 402, a valve system 404 and a coupling system 406.

[0089]FIG. 23 shows the valve system 404 and the coupling system 406. The valve system 404 includes a handle 410, and the coupling system 406 includes two arms 412, and the handle 410 and arms 412 can be manipulated by a user to control the operation of the device. A bleed back tube 414 and the proximal end of the control tip 44 are also shown in this Figure.

[0090]FIG. 24 shows a cross section view of the pledget handling system 400, in which section lines have been omitted for the purpose of clarity. The pledget handling system 400 includes cylindrical chamber 420 connected at its proximal end to a syringe-communication cannula 422 and at its distal end to a valve-entry port 424. At the distal end of the valve-entry port 424 there is a cylindrical valve chamber 426 which contains flow-control member 428. The flow-control member 428 is essentially a truncated cylinder in configuration, having part of its distal side (in the FIG. 24 orientation) missing and also having a semi-cylindrical vent port 430 formed in its upper surface. The flow-control member 428 also has a semi-cylindrical cut-out portion 429. The flow-control member 428 is sized and shaped to be in close engagement with the valve chamber 426 so that when the flow-control member 428 is in the orientation shown in FIG. 24 fluid cannot flow from the valve-entry port 424 into the valve chamber 426. The flow-control member 428 is directly connected to the handle 410 (by a post, not shown) so that a user can rotate the flow-control member 428 by rotating the handle 410.

[0091] At its distal end the valve chamber 426 is coupled to a valve-exit port 432 which is designed to receive introducer sheath 10. The coupling system 406 includes cylindrical cannula coupler 432 and the arms 412 are connected to the body of the coupling system by posts 434 which are made of a resilient material.

[0092] Turning now to FIG. 25 there is a schematic illustration of the pledget handling system 400 in operation. It should be understood that the pledget 20 has been inserted into the chamber 420, the syringe and the introducer sheath 10 have been connected to the pledget handling system 400 and the device is ready for the hydrating step. The user rotates the valve arm 412 so that the flow-control member 428 is in the orientation shown in FIG. 25 so that it prevents fluid flow from the valve-entry port 424 to valve exit port 432. The user can then hydrate the pledget by operating the syringe to introduce fluid into the chamber 420.

[0093] After completing the hydrating step the user can continue to the staging step, which is illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27. In this step the user rotates the valve arm 412 so that the flow-control member 428 is in the orientation shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. In this orientation the flow-control member 428 prevents fluid flow from flowing from the valve-entry port 424 to valve exit port 432. However, in this orientation the vent port 430 is in communication with the allows a small amount of fluid to flow from the valve-entry port 424. The vent port 430 is also in fluid-flow communication with an exit port, not shown, which extends to the outside of the pledget handling system 400, so that fluid can flow from the cut-out portion 429 to exit the pledget handling system 400. Thus, during the staging step, as best shown in FIG. 27, fluid flows through the chamber causing the pledget to travel toward the distal end of the chamber 420 while fluid flows through the exit port and out of the device at a slow rate. The cut-out portion is small in size so that it permits fluid flow but does not allow for passage of the pledget.

[0094] Also, it should be noted that a bleed back channel 440 is connected in fluid flow communication with the valve chamber 426, and a bleed back tube 442 is connected in communication with the bleed back channel 440. Thus, it can be seen that when the flow-control member is in the staging position, blood which flows through the valve exit port 432 then flows through the chamber 426 and then out of the device through bleed back tube 442. Thereby a user is given notice of bleed back. Also, the tube 442 can be rotated with respect to the pledget handling system 400 to allow the user to change the direction of the tube 442 to direct blood away from him/her self or away from others in the vicinity.

[0095] Once the user has completed staging of the pledget, the next stage of delivery can be commenced, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29. In the delivery step the user rotates the flow-control member to the positions as shown and applies pressure to fluid in the syringe. This causes the hydrated pledget to travel through the valve chamber 426 and then from the pledget handling system 400 and through the introducer sheath 10. Turning now to FIGS. 30 and 31, the coupling system 406 is described. The coupling system includes two arms 412, one coupled to each side of the pledget handling system 400 by posts 434. Each arm 412 has an engagement bracket 450 at its distal end. The posts are formed of resilient material so that the arms operate as levers with the posts 434 as fulcrums. Thus, to operate the coupling system the user applies pressure with the fingers to the proximate portions of the arms 412 to force them toward one another which in turn forces the engagement brackets 450 away from each other. Then the user can locate the distal end of an introducer sheath 10 between the brackets 442 and release the proximal ends of the arms 412 so that the brackets then engage the sheath 10. In FIG. 30 the coupling system is shown attached to a conventional sheath 452 made by the Terumo company. While in FIG. 31 the coupling system is shown attached to a conventional sheath 454 made by the Cordis company. It can be seen that the coupling system 406 is capable of being used with a variety of conventional sheaths.

[0096] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with bleed back provided between the introducer sheath 10 and the control tip 14, an alternative way of obtaining bleed back involves providing a hole in the control tip and bleed back through the internal lumen of the control tip. According to this alternative bleed back system, a bleed back hole is provided in the enlarged distal end 40 of the control tip 14 at a location close to the proximal end of the enlarged portion. The bleed back hole communicates with the lumen of the control tip body and allows bleed back to be viewed at the proximal end 44 of the control tip which extends out of the side wall of the hydration chamber 12.

[0097] It is preferred that the distance d between the distal end of the introducer sheath and the enlarged distal end 40 of the control tip 14 in each of the foregoing embodiments be selected so that the point at which bleed back stops is the desired delivery location for delivering the hemostasis promoting material to the blood vessel puncture. Alternatively, the introducer sheath 10, hydration chamber 12, and control tip 14 may be withdrawn an additional predetermined amount to the desired delivery location after bleed back stops.

[0098] The transverse cross sectional profile of all of the foregoing structures can be any desired shape, including square, oval, triangular, and preferable circular. The materials out of which the introducer sheaths, hydration chamber, control tip, and couplers are constructed are preferably selected to be relatively rigid and biocompatible, and more preferably are biocompatible polymers, biocompatible metals and metal alloys, and combinations thereof.

[0099] The present invention also provides for positioning the introducer sheath in a desired extravascular location, controlling the blood vessel puncture site, and delivering a hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site. The present invention may include a control tip dilator insertable through the introducer sheath to locate and seal the blood vessel puncture site by delivering a hemostasis promoting material to the puncture site.

[0100]FIG. 32 is a side cross sectional view illustrating a blood vessel puncture site with an introducer sheath and guidewire positioned in the blood vessel puncture. The introducer sheath 500 and guidewire 504 are positioned in the blood vessel puncture 506 following an intravascular procedure. The introducer sheath 500 may be an intravascular access sheath as is conventionally used for procedures such as coronary angioplasty and stenting procedures.

[0101]FIG. 33 is a side cross sectional view illustrating a sheath positioned extravascular the puncture of the blood vessel and a dilator to control the puncture site. The dilator 512 has a distal extension t and includes a bleed back hole 510 that may extend a distance d beyond the distal end of the sheath 514 and into the lumen of the blood vessel 508. The bleed back hole 510 may be used to provide visual bleed back information to the user as described in detail above. In FIG. 33, the sheath 500 and dilator 512 have been withdrawn until blood stops entering the bleed back hole 510. The sheath 500 is then located extravascular or outside the blood vessel 508. Moreover, the location of the blood vessel puncture 506 relative to the distal end of the sheath 514 is now known. Thus, removal of the dilator then allows for ease of delivery of hemostasis promoting materials to seal the puncture site 506 since the sheath 500 is in the proper location for delivery of the hemostasis promoting material. In one embodiment, external digital pressure as further described below with reference to FIG. 34 may be applied prior to removal of the dilator. The dilator is then removed and hemostasis promoting material is delivered through the sheath while the site is controlled by external digital pressure. After delivery of hemostasis promoting material, the external pressure may be released.

[0102]FIG. 34 is a side cross sectional view illustrating the determination of the depth of a puncture of the blood vessel with a sheath and a dilator. The depth of the puncture may be measured with external digital puncture control 520 as shown in FIG. 34 or without as shwon in FIG. 35. The sheath may first be positioned as shown in FIG. 33. A user may then apply digital pressure 520 over the puncture 506 as is traditional during device exchanges. The sheath 500 may then be grasped 518 at the skin surface 516 and withdrawn until the bleed back hole 510 exits the skin 516. The depth of the puncture 506 may be determined by distance S_(c), if external digital pressure is applied, or S_(u) (shown in FIG. 35), if no external digital pressure is applied. S_(c) and S_(u) is the distance between the bleed back hole 510 and the point where the sheath 500 was grasped 518 at the skin surface. Since S_(c) is the depth of the blood vessel in a compressed state and S_(u) is the depth of the blood vessel in an uncompressed state, it is important to note that S_(c) will be less than S_(u) due to the compression of the tissue above the blood vessel. Knowing the depth of the puncture may be important in determining how deep to place other devices such as extravascular depth markers or extravascular delivery systems.

[0103] Those of ordinary skill in the art will now realize that a marker, which may be an axially movable member such as an o-ring, may be placed at the skin surface around the sheath 500. Alternatively, depth indicator markers may be pre-marked on the sheath 500 to locate the depth and location of the puncture. Depth indicator markers may also be placed on the dilator 512 if the distal extension t is greater than the depth of the puncture. Moreover, it is preferable that the distal extension t be greater than or equal to S_(u) or S_(c) to provide control of the blood flow of the puncture 506 during and after the determination of the depth and location of the puncture 506.

[0104]FIG. 35 is a side cross sectional view illustrating a sheath positioned extravascular the puncture of the blood vessel using a control tip dilator to control the puncture site. The control tip dilator 524 may have an enlarged distal end 526 configured to be received in the puncture in the blood vessel and to control blood flow through the puncture in the blood vessel. The control tip dilator 524 has a distal extension t and a proximal transition extension d₂, the distance between the distal end of the sheath 514 and the lumen of the blood vessel 508. The enlarged distal end 526 is connected to a smaller diameter control tip tube 528 that extends proximally from the enlarged distal end 526. The enlarged distal end 526 of the control tip 524 performs the multiple functions of controlling blood flow through the blood vessel puncture and providing an indication of the position of the distal end of the introducer sheath 514.

[0105] In FIG. 35, the sheath 500 may be used to provide bleed back indication to the user. The sheath 500 may be withdrawn until blood stops entering the distal end 514 of the sheath 500 and the proximal transition end 528 of the control tip dilator controls the blood flow through the puncture 506. The sheath 500 is then located extravascular or outside the blood vessel. Moreover, the location of the blood vessel puncture 506 relative to the distal end of the sheath 514 is now known. Thus, removal of the control tip dilator allows for ease of delivery of hemostasis promoting materials to seal the puncture site 506 since the sheath 500 is in the proper location for delivery of the hemostasis promoting material. In a preferred embodiment, external digital pressure as described above with reference to FIG. 34 may be applied prior to removal of the control tip dilator. The control tip dilator may then be removed and the hemostasis promoting material delivered through the sheath while the site is controlled by external digital pressure. After delivery of hemostasis promoting material, external pressure may be released.

[0106] The control tip dilator 524 may also be used to locate the depth of the puncture 506 with external digital pressure or without external digital pressure as was described above using the dilator. A user may apply digital pressure over the puncture as is traditional during device exchanges. The sheath and control tip dilator are grasped at the skin surface and withdrawn until the proximal transition end 528 of the control tip dilator exits the skin. The depth of the puncture, either S_(c) or S_(u), can then be determined, S_(c) and S_(u) now being the distance between the proximal transition end of the control tip dilator and where the sheath was grasped or marked at the skin surface. Those of ordinary skill in the art will now realize that a marker may be placed at the skin surface around the sheath, or depth indicator markers may be pre-marked on the sheath or control tip dilator to locate the depth and location of the puncture.

[0107] In an alternative embodiment, the location and depth of the puncture of a blood vessel may be determined using only the sheath. FIG. 36 is a side cross sectional view illustrating a sheath positioned extravascular the puncture of the blood vessel. During a surgical procedure, the sheath 500 and guidewire 504 are positioned intravascular the blood vessel as shown in FIG. 1. In this position, blood flows from the blood vessel, enters the distal end 514 of the sheath and exits the proximal end 526 of the sheath 500. As shown in FIG. 36, the depth or location of the puncture 506 of the blood vessel may be located by applying external digital pressure 522 directly over the puncture 506. The sheath 500 may be withdrawn until blood stops exiting the proximal end of the sheath 526 due to the external digital pressure 522 thereby closing the distal tissue tract from blood flow. At this point, the distance e of the sheath 500 to the puncture 506 may be approximately between 2 mm to 6 mm. The sheath is then grasped at the skin surface and withdrawn until the distal tip exits the skin. The depth of the puncture S_(c) may then be determined by the following formula:

S _(c) =S _(d) +e  (1)

[0108] where S_(d) is the distance between the distal end 514 of the sheath and the point where the sheath 500 was grasped at the skin surface. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also realize that a marker may be placed at the skin surface around the sheath 500, or depth indicator markers may be pre-marked on the sheath 500 to locate the depth and location of the puncture.

[0109] Alternatively, once the sheath 500 is withdrawn until blood stops entering the distal end 514, the sheath 500 is located extravascular or outside the blood vessel 508 which is a beneficial position to have the sheath. The location of the blood vessel puncture relative to the distal end of the sheath is now known. This which allows for ease of delivery of hemostasis promoting materials to seal the puncture site since the sheath 500 is in the proper location for delivery of the hemostasis promoting material.

[0110] Although the present invention has been described as a system for delivering hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site which is delivered over a guidewire to the puncture site, the system may also be used without a guidewire in which case the lumen of the control tip may be omitted. Alternatively, the guidewire 504 may be replaced using any guiding or locating member having an outer diameter smaller than the distal opening and lumen of the access sheath. Devices such as guide catheters, dilators, and floppy tip catheters may be used and may or may not include guidewire lumens. In the above embodiments in FIGS. 32-26, at least 0.0005 in² of the cross sectional area of the access sheath lumen and distal opening may remain unoccupied. Preferably, at least 0.001 in² may remain unoccupied and more preferred, 0.002 in² may remain unoccupied.

[0111] It is preferred that the distance d and e in the embodiments of FIGS. 32-36 be selected so that the point at which bleed back stops is the desired delivery location for delivering the hemostasis promoting material to the blood vessel puncture. Alternatively, the introducer sheath, and control tip dilator or dilator may be withdrawn an additional predetermined amount to the desired delivery location after bleed back stops.

[0112] The entire system illustrated in the drawings may be provided in a kit or the parts may be provided individually for use with known introducer sheaths and syringes.

[0113] The hydration chamber 12 may be designed to be received interchangeably on one or more of a variety of different sheaths having different hub configurations. For example, some of the known introducer sheaths have hubs which include internal flanges, external flanges, internal threads, external threads, and/or locking detents. The hubs of some of these known sheaths are designed for connection to a correspondingly shaped dilator.

[0114] One example of a hemostasis promoting material for use in the systems of the present invention is commercially available Gelfoam from Upjohn. However, other forms of gelatin foam sponge may also be used which are modified from the commercially available Gelfoam to achieve reduced friction between the delivery system and the gelatin foam sponge. Once such modification is to change an amount of cross linking agent added to the gelatin to improve the delivery properties of the sponge.

[0115] Although the system of the present invention is particularly designed for use with an introducer sheath which has already been placed at a blood vessel puncture site, the system may also be used by removing the introducer sheath used in a procedure and replacing the procedure introducer sheath with a new introducer sheath which is connectable to the hydration chamber 12. For ease of introducing the introducer sheath and hydration chamber together, the control tip is preferably withdrawn partially into the introducer to act as a dilator for insertion of the system.

[0116] For all of the embodiments of the control tip herein, the outer diameter of the central portion of the enlarged control head is between about 5 French and about 9 French, preferable between about 6 French and about 7 French. The length of the enlarged control head, between the distal most end and the proximal end of the proximal tapered portion, is between about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) and about 3 inches (7.6 cm), preferably between about 1.5 inches and about 2 inches (6.4 cm), and more preferably about 1.875 inches (4.8 cm). Control heads of these dimensions are well suited for controlling puncture sites as described herein, particularly puncture sites used during Seldinger-type vascular access.

[0117] While the invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made and equivalents employed, without departing from the present invention. 

We claim:
 1. A method for positioning a sheath located within a blood vessel extravascular and substantially adjacent the blood vessel puncture site, the method comprising: inserting a dilator into the sheath and said blood vessel, said dilator having a bleed back hole near a distal end of said sheath; withdrawing said dilator and sheath until blood from said blood vessel no longer enters said bleed back hole; applying external pressure to said blood vessel puncture site; and removing said dilator from said sheath
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering a hemostasis promoting material to said blood vessel puncture site through said sheath.
 3. A method for positioning a sheath located within a blood vessel extravascular and substantially adjacent the blood vessel puncture site, the method comprising: applying external pressure over said blood vessel puncture site; and withdrawing said sheath until a blood flow no longer enters a distal end of said sheath, wherein said blood flow can not be seen from a vent tube.
 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising delivering a hemostasis promoting material to said blood vessel puncture site through said sheath.
 5. A method for determining the location and depth of a blood vessel puncture site from a skin surface with a sheath positioned within a blood vessel, comprising: inserting a dilator into the sheath and said blood vessel, said dilator having a bleed back hole near a distal end of said sheath; withdrawing said dilator and said sheath until a blood flow from said blood vessel no longer enters said bleed back hole; marking said sheath at a skin surface; and removing said sheath to determine the depth of said blood vessel puncture site.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said withdrawing said dilator and sheath further comprises controlling the blood flow from said puncture site with said dilator.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein said marking further comprises grasping said sheath at said skin surface.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein said marking further comprises placing a marker around said sheath at said skin surface.
 9. The method of claim 5 wherein said marking further comprises a depth indicator on said sheath.
 10. The method of claim 5 further comprising measuring a distance from said marking to said bleed back hole.
 11. The method of claim 5 wherein said withdrawing said dilator and said sheath further comprises applying external pressure to said blood vessel puncture site.
 12. The method of claim 5 wherein said marking further comprises: applying external pressure to said blood vessel puncture site; removing said dilator; and delivering a hemostasis promoting material to said blood vessel puncture site through said sheath.
 13. A method for determining the location and depth of a blood vessel puncture site from a skin surface with a sheath positioned within a blood vessel, comprising: inserting a control tip dilator into the sheath and said blood vessel; withdrawing said sheath until a blood flow no longer enters a distal end of said sheath; marking said sheath at a skin surface; and removing said sheath to determine the depth of said blood vessel puncture site.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said withdrawing further comprises controlling the blood flow from said puncture site with said control tip dilator.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein said marking further comprises grasping said sheath at said skin surface.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein said marking further comprises placing a marker around said sheath at said skin surface.
 17. The method of claim 13 wherein said marking further comprises a depth indicator on said sheath.
 18. The method of claim 13 wherein said removing further comprises applying external pressure to said blood vessel puncture site.
 19. The method of claim 13 further comprising measuring a distance from said marking to said distal end of said sheath.
 20. The method of claim 13 wherein said marking further comprises: applying external pressure to said blood vessel puncture site; removing said control tip dilator; and delivering a hemostasis promoting material to said blood vessel puncture site through said sheath.
 21. A method for determining the location and depth of a blood vessel puncture site from a skin surface with a sheath positioned within a blood vessel, comprising: applying external pressure to said blood vessel puncture site; withdrawing said sheath until a blood flow from said blood vessel no longer enters a distal end of said sheath, wherein said blood flow can not be seen from a vent tube; marking said sheath at a skin surface; and removing said sheath to determine the depth of said blood vessel puncture site.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein said marking further comprises grasping said sheath at said skin surface.
 23. The method of claim 21 wherein said marking further comprises placing a marker around said sheath at said skin surface.
 24. The method of claim 21 wherein said marking further comprises a depth indicator on said sheath.
 25. The method of claim 21 further comprising measuring a distance from said marking to said distal end of said sheath.
 26. A method for delivering a hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site, through a sheath located within a blood vessel, comprising: inserting a dilator into the sheath and said blood vessel, said dilator having a bleed back hole near a distal end of said sheath; withdrawing said dilator and said sheath until a blood flow from said blood vessel no longer enters said bleed back hole; applying external pressure to said blood vessel puncture site; removing said dilator; and delivering the hemostasis promoting material to said blood vessel puncture site through said sheath.
 27. A method for delivering a hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site, through a sheath located within a blood vessel, comprising: inserting a control tip dilator into the sheath and said blood vessel; withdrawing said sheath until a blood flow no longer enters a distal end of said sheath; applying external pressure to said blood vessel puncture site; removing said control tip dilator; and delivering a hemostasis promoting material to said blood vessel puncture site through said sheath.
 28. A method for delivering a hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site, through a sheath located within a blood vessel, comprising: applying external pressure to said blood vessel puncture site; withdrawing said sheath until a blood flow from said blood vessel no longer enters a distal end of said sheath; and delivering the hemostasis promoting material to said blood vessel puncture site.
 29. The method of claim 28 further comprising releasing said external pressure.
 30. An apparatus for determining the location and depth of a blood vessel puncture site from a skin surface, comprising: a procedural sheath positioned within a blood vessel; a control tip dilator located within said procedural sheath such that a control tip of said control tip dilator is located external a distal end of said procedural sheath; a marking means on said procedural sheath; and a means for determining a bleed back flow.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising means for controlling a bleed back flow with said control tip dilator.
 32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said marking means comprises a finger placement marker.
 33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said marking means further comprises an o-ring.
 34. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said marking means further comprises a depth indicator.
 35. An apparatus for determining the location and depth of a blood vessel puncture site from a skin surface, comprising: a procedural sheath positioned within a blood vessel; means for applying external pressure to said blood vessel puncture site; means for determining a bleed back flow with a vent tube; and a marking means on said procedural sheath.
 36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said marking means further comprises a finger placement marker on said procedural sheath at said skin surface.
 37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said marking means further comprises an o-ring at said skin surface.
 38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said marking means further comprises a depth indicator at said skin surface. 